304 stainless

[Millertime]

can you machine 304 stainless dry with carbide insert cutters or do you have to use coolant

[dgriffiths]

Use air blast if you can to clear the chips and keep the inserts cool.

[Goldorak]

x2 , the temperature got to be stable in 304

 

with coolant you will destroy your inserts in seconds due to the thermal shock when hot tool hit the cold coolant

[Jmick]

Goldorak is dead on.

[Jammer™]

I disagree. A majority of what I cut is 304 and 316 Stainless. I use coolant on insert cutters (because I don't have the setup for air) without any problems.

[Goldorak]

as jammer said , you can use coolant , but you got to use it a lot to prevent heat

 

we also cut a lot of 304, mainly flame cut plate

 

 

PS i hate 304 , I prefer super alloys like A286 or inconnel

[mcpgmr]

The right speeds and feeds on 304 with coolant will work just fine. The heat should go to the chip and the chip evacutaed by the coolant. Watch the wear and change inserts before the edge breaks down and starts to generates more heat. Try to maximize d.o.c. both linear and radial to get the most out of your insert while your in the cut. I only rough with the insert tool and go back and finish with solid carbide. HTH!

[Millertime]

thanks alot for the info air blast is working great

[Josh T™]

quote:

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304 mainly flame cut plate

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That's gotta SUCK!

[Goldorak]

yes it is

[mcpgmr]

Flame cut? I like to conventional mill to get under the crap and not drag it thru then climb to finish.

[Goldorak]

quote:

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Flame cut? I like to conventional mill to get under the crap and not drag it thru then climb to finish. [Wink]

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i did it that way too